We have said that Vishu
or the Sunís entry into the zero degree of sidereal Aries, is the time for the farmers to sow.

Vishu or the solar ingress into Aries, is celebrated all over
Kerala. This is the dawn of a good era, as it marks the end of the hot seasons
of Kumbha ( Aquarius ) and Meena ( Pisces ). Temperature
touching 43 degrees is disconcerting. Vishu is the heralder of the
two monsoons, the Kala Varsha and the Thula Varsha.

Mesha will be hot, no doubt, and heat will come down in Vrishabha ! Indian
Sciences, Saastras, are Poorna or Full Sciences !

The Sun entered Sidereal FPA ( First Point of Aries ) at 0204 AM on 140417, thus initiating
the beginning of the Hindu Solar Year, Meshashwi Prathama.

Happy Vishu to all. Also Happy Vaishakha.

On 26th, the second Lunar Month of Vaishakha begins. This is a Holy Phase
for Eternians and Guruvayur becomes full with pilgrims. Now thousands are en
route to Guruvayur to have a Vision of the Lord, as his outer Symbol, the
Sun, enters Zero Degree Aries !

The Vedic Calender is astro-meteorological and the farmers know
when to sow and when to reap. So the best time to sow is in Medam or Mesha
or Aries. Anything planted after this date will fructify, as the Edava
Pathi or the South West Moon takes over in June and the Thula Varsham
or the North East Monsoon takes over in Oct-Nov.

In traditional farming, plants and trees need watering on alternative days.
Now both monsoons ensure that plants and trees will be watered by Nature !.
Hence the green landscape engineering done by Nature makes Kerala
beauteous !

When the Sun reaches its maximum declination at 23 degrees 27 mins
North,
at the Tropic of Cancer, ( the end of Uttarayana, the Northern Solstice), the
North Indian regions become hot and the Indian Ocean becomes cool. Cool winds flow
from the Indian Ocean, and then travel north to the Himalayas, condense to form
clouds and finally precipitate over peninsular India ! This is called Kala
Varsha. This ends in September and is
replaced by the Thula Varsha and this rainy season or watering by Nature
continues till Dhanus, the 15th of December ! Hence the tourists find
Kerala enchanting, because of the green landscape architecture effectuated by
Mother Nature !

India is an agrarian economy, dependent heavily on the monsoons. In 1895,
the rains never came and India experienced drought and famine. The monsoons
can also be destructive. Trees are uprooted, cables smashed, houses destroyed
as a result of poor infrastructure. In 2008, our paddy fields were flooded due
to heavy rains and the nearby inhabitants had to be evacuated. Despite its
potential for destruction, monsoons are generally welcomed, as it liberate the
natives from the blistering heat of Kumbha (Aquarius ) and Meena
( Pisces ).

Q - The word Vishu is
derived from where ?

A - From the Celestial Equator, which is called Vishu Vat Vritta in Sanskrit.

The Ecliptic, Kranti Vritta, is slanted 23.5 degrees from the Celestial
Equator and these two Celestial Circles intersect on only two
days, the Vishu and Thula Vishu Days, as shown in the Diagram. This year Vishu
was on Apr 14 and Thula Vishu will be on Oct 17 !

Vishu marks the beginning of Vasanta Rithu, the first of
the six seasons.

Farmers in Kerala say that

the seeds sown on Aswathi Jnattuvela ( the Sunís transit of the
first 13 degrees of Aries )

and mango seeds sown on Bharani Jnattuvela ( the Sunsís transit of
the constellation of Bharani )

will fructify.

The best time for planting cocounut trees is on Patham Udayam, the
Tenth Rising of the Sun, when Sun enters the tenth degree of Aries.

So Vishu is an agricultural festival, based on the Wisdom of the
Heavens and not a religious festival !

Medaponnaniyum Konna pookkaniyay
Peelii kavukalil thala pookulay

The Pookkani made up of Golden Shower flowers
Festooned in Mesha gold !
And festivals in temples
Characterise this grand festival Vishu !

It is a practice of Keralites
To get up at Brahma Muhurta ( 0430 AM )
Mothers take children blindfolded
So that their first sight is the Lord !